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Continental ExtremeWinterContact vs Yokohama W.Drive — Compared (September 2026)
Our Relative Score blends 60% objective test data with 40% owner-review signal — so any two tires can be compared even if they were never tested on the same day.
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7 categories, side by side
Each bar is the Relative Score for that category. Expand a tile to see the test results and owner ratings behind it.
Dry
Why this score
| Source | ExtremeWinterContact | W.Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 98 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 77 |
Wet
Why this score
| Source | ExtremeWinterContact | W.Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 77 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | 90 | 71 |
Snow
Why this score
| Source | ExtremeWinterContact | W.Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 67 |
| Tyre Reviews owners | – | 55 |
Comfort
Why this score
| Source | ExtremeWinterContact | W.Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 95 | 77 |
Noise
Why this score
| Source | ExtremeWinterContact | W.Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Professional tests (TWG score) | – | 81 |
Treadwear
Why this score
| Source | ExtremeWinterContact | W.Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 95 | 78 |
Handling
Why this score
| Source | ExtremeWinterContact | W.Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre Reviews owners | 85 | 71 |
Scores at a glance
| Category | Continental ExtremeWinterContact | Yokohama W.Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Relative Score | 91 | 78 |
| Dry | 90 | 89 |
| Wet | 90 | 75 |
| Snow | – | 62 |
| Comfort | 95 | 77 |
| Noise | – | 81 |
| Treadwear | 95 | 78 |
| Handling | 85 | 71 |
Higher is better. The Relative Score follows your weights below; category scores do not change.
Weight the categories that matter to you
Wet grip and treadwear start at “Important” — the two things buyers rank highest. Move the sliders and the scores update instantly.
Tire A
Tire B
Only categories both tires have data for count toward the headline score.
Pros, cons & observations
Themes extracted from owner reviews across retailers and review sites — not the opinion of TireWheelGuide.
The Continental ExtremeWinterContact is highly regarded for its exceptional performance in severe winter conditions, including deep snow and extreme sub-zero temperatures. Users consistently report high levels of confidence and safety, noting that the tire eliminates the need for auxiliary traction aids like snow chains even in mountainous terrain.
Pros
- Outstanding traction on packed snow and ice
- Reliable performance in extreme sub-zero temperatures
- High level of driver confidence in challenging winter conditions
- Proven capability in mountainous terrain
Cons
- Increased road noise associated with XL (extra load) variants
- Potential for reduced cornering and braking precision in XL versions
- Requires seasonal wheel changeover for optimal performance
Observations
- Users opting for smaller rim diameters (e.g., 15-inch) to maintain rolling circumference report excellent comfort and safety.
- The XL (Extra Load) version is noted to have a distinct impact on handling characteristics and noise levels compared to standard load variants.
The Yokohama W Drive presents a polarizing user experience, with performance heavily dependent on vehicle drivetrain and driving style. While many owners report excellent traction in snow and ice, providing a transformative winter driving experience, a significant subset of users—particularly those with high-torque rear-wheel-drive vehicles—report severe handling instability and safety concerns.
Pros
- Exceptional traction and mobility in snow and ice conditions.
- Strong dry-road handling performance, often described as comparable to summer tires.
- Impressive tread longevity when maintained at proper inflation pressures.
- Quiet and comfortable ride quality for most users.
Cons
- Significant instability and lack of rear-end grip reported on high-torque, rear-wheel-drive vehicles.
- Inconsistent performance on greasy or wet road surfaces.
- Reports of excessive road noise and harsh ride quality from some users.
- High sensitivity to tire pressure, leading to rapid wear if not monitored.
Observations
- Users of high-torque BMW models (535d, 335d) reported severe traction issues and fishtailing, suggesting a potential mismatch between the tire's compound and high-torque RWD platforms.
- Quattro (AWD) users reported high satisfaction, noting the tires provided reliable grip and durability across varied conditions.
Specs side by side
| Attribute | A · Continental ExtremeWinterContact | B · Yokohama W.Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Winter High Performance tires | High Performance Winter tire |
| Vehicle type | Passenger Car / Crossover | Passenger Car / Crossover |
Which one should you actually buy?
Continental
Yokohama
Winner: Continental ExtremeWinterContact — better comfort, treadwear and wet. It leads or ties in every category we score.
Continental ExtremeWinterContact scores 95 vs 77 on comfort.
Continental ExtremeWinterContact scores 95 vs 78 on treadwear.
Continental ExtremeWinterContact scores 90 vs 75 on wet.
Continental ExtremeWinterContact scores 85 vs 71 on handling.
How do we compare tires?
Every category score blends two independent signals. 60% comes from professional tire tests (braking distances, lap times, noise measurements) normalized against the best tire in each test and weighted toward recent tests. 40% comes from thousands of owner reviews collected from retailers and review sites. When a tire has only one of the two, we use what exists and say so.
Community buzz from Reddit and forums is shown for context only — it never changes the score.